I went to the library yesterday with the kids after the pool closed when it started thundering out. This was the original plan; go to the library and then the pool. I pick my battles, so we went to the pool first. Gotta love Minnesota weather!
I don’t know what was happening but most of the books that ended up in my bag had something to do with Dogs. The cover of Norah’s Ark by Judy Baer was just so cute I had to read it first.
My gang left the library with 3 back packs and one tote bag full of books. It had stopped raining in Faribault so we went to the park there instead of at home where it was raining cats and dogs when we left.
While the kids played I read. And read. And read! I was so glad they were having fun and not wanting to go home because I didn’t want to put the book down.
Can you drive with a book on the steering wheel? Never in my life have I been so tempted to try.
The cover of Norah’s Ark shows the main four-legged character Bentley. Bentley is”a mixed breed Staffordshire terrier, beagle and who-knows-what-else” dog. He’s black and white and scared of his own shadow. He’s scared of fire hydrants. He’s scared of the street. Let’s just say Bentley is one scared puppy and leave it at that.
Bentley is the main man in Norah Kent’s life. She owns Norah’s Ark Pet Store and Doggie B and B – Bed and Biscuit. Norah’s Ark is on Pond Street in Shoreside, a small town in Minnesota not far from Minneapolis. Having lived in Minnesota my whole live I’ve never heard of Shoreside, but I wish I could go there, it sounds lovely.
I was thinking it seemed a bit like Minnetonka, but I could be wrong and it could be totally fictitious and not based on any real place.
The owners of the businesses on Pond Street are a family of sorts. They are good friends who care about one another and look after those who need it. Lilly Culpepper owns The Fashion Diva, Auntie Lou has Auntie Lou’s Antiques, Joe has the Java Jockey, Barney has Barney’s Gas, Connor Trevain has the Zachary Zephyr, and protecting them all is Officer Nick Haley with his partner Sergeant Thunder.
Norah loves animals, and is a big fan of God to boot. She’s been waiting for God to send her Mr. Right. She expects to hear bells when she meets him. So far, Norah has Joe wanting to marry her. Who has God chosen for Norah, she wonders.
The dynamics of the friends on Pond Street is awesome. They have fun together and support each other in their business ventures. When Auntie Lou has some problems because of health issues Norah steps up and does what she can to help Auntie Lou stay in her home and business when the others on the street feel it’s a lost cause. I didn’t much like that. It was as if just because she was old she wasn’t useful anymore. Just because she was going to have trouble with the stairs didn’t mean Auntie Lou couldn’t still run a successful business as she had been for more than 50 years~!
Our elders used to be respected, revered, and treasured. When did we as a society start changing and treating the elderly as a burden?
When Lilly meets Connor she is struck instantly by the love bug. Lilly is eyeing up Connor, but Connor is pursuing Norah. Norah is pursuing Nick until it’s discovered that Nick is afraid of Bentley and wants nothing at all to do with dogs.
Norah would never give up Bentley. She loves Bentley and all animals. She believes that we humans are God’s stewards for the animals. I think that is why I like Norah so much and care about what happens to her. She even has this elaborate adoption ceremony when children adopt one of the pets from her store, complete with a fancy adoption certificate. She really cares about animals and believes (as I do) that they deserve the very best life has to offer them.
Lets face it no one will love you unconditionally like an animal. And all they expect in return is food and tummy rubs from time to time.
When new people, Franklin and Julie Morris, join the business owners crew on Pond Street they bring along their troubled son Bryce. Bryce is your typical sullen teenager dressed in black, with various color hair tips. He was in with the wrong gang and kept getting into trouble. The Morris’ hoped that by removing him from the bad elements they would find their loving son again.
Pond Street has never had trouble before, yet all of a sudden newspapers are missing, checks are stolen, money and diamonds begin disappearing from places. All eyes point to Bryce. Norah and Nick are not certain that Bryce is behind all the trouble. Julie asks for their help to draw Bryce out and see what will happen.
What happens is so cool! I really got excited reading about it. Bryce and Auntie Lou become a team at the Antique store after Auntie Lou has a series of strokes and needs help manning the elevator from the top floor apartment to the main floor shop.
The whole street is amazed and pleased with the transformation of both Auntie Lou and Bryce as the Morris family becomes closer to Auntie Lou, and realizes that Bryce has missed his grandparents a great deal.
Will Lilly forgive Norah for catching Connors eye? Will Joe get over wanting to wed Norah and find his true love? Will Nick ever be able to get past his fear of Bentley? Will Norah ever hear the bells she’s been waiting for? Will Bentley ever be able to walk past fire hydrants instead of being dragged?
I can’t tell you. You will have to read Judy Baer’sNorah’s Ark to find out. You really should it’s one of the better books I’ve read all summer long. It’s entertaining, heartwarming, with a tiny kick of mystery thrown in. I really wouldn’t classify this as a romantic book. People do end up together, but it’s more of a tiny side dish than the main course.
The library classifies this as Christian Fiction. God and religion are present in the book but they are not overwhelming or preachy. It just is. This book is a very comfortable story to read even for those with no religious inclination at all.
I’m a massive animal person and always have been. I currently have a boyfriend who tolerates my dog and cat but doesn’t support my desire for more animals. It’s a struggle so it was interesting to me to read about the relationship between Norah and Nick. I still have hope for my boyfriend, but I don’t think I’ll be as lucky. Oh well,
No matter what kind of pet person you are – or aren’t – you will find someone or something to love about Judy Baer’sNorah’s Ark. It’s full of quirky and warm characters that you can’t wait to see what they do next! The only thing I couldn't figure out is that Norah never took Bentley out side to go potty. Her rabbit was litter box trained. Was Bentley? I found it a wee bit disturbing that everytime Norah came home to Bentley she just cuddled with him or something and no mention was made about letting him outside. I don't know about you, but when I come home my dog's gotta pee and pee bad!
I read the book in less than 24 hours and will be bringing it back to the library today. Go check it out!
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